Archive for September 2010

« Older Entries

30th September 2010 Cliffs possible for International run

Canford Cliffs could run again this season as connections of the three-year-old mull a foreign trip with their star colt.

Winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace and Sussex Stakes, Canford Cliffs was due to run in last weekend’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

However, an unsatisfactory scope forced his withdrawal and trainer Richard Hannon indicated that the son of Tagula would not run again this year.

While the trainer would rather focus on Canford Cliffs’ four-year-old career now, the colt’s owners want to look at the remaining foreign options this term.

“The owners seem keen to have another run, though there is nothing left for him in Europe, so I suppose if he does go again they will be looking at the Breeders’ Cup Mile in Kentucky as well as Japan and Hong Kong,” said Hannon.

“If they decide against travelling him this year, we’ll pack him up until next season.”

Tags: ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

29th September 2010 Workforce stays in Arc shake-up

Workforce was among 26 horses left in at the latest acceptance stage for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Connections have stated they will delay a final decision on the Derby winner’s participation until Thursday.

The main contenders remain in France’s premier middle-distance contest, including ante-post favourite Behkabad, Planteur and Sarafina.

Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco head Aidan O’Brien’s team with back-up supplied by Joshua Tree, Bright Horizon, Dixie Music, Midas Touch and Flying Cross.

Youmzain has finished second for the last three years and Mick Channon’s grand campaigner is on course for another attempt at lifting Europe’s prestigious prize.

Cavalryman is Godolphin’s sole entry, while John Gosden’s Prix Foy winner Duncan and Japanese challenger Nakayama Festa are among other’s in line to try for Arc immortality.

Lope De Vega, winner of the French 2000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey Club, is likely to be added to the field at Thursday’s supplementary stage.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

28th September 2010 Elliptical chasing deserved win

Trainer Gerard Butler is hoping that Elliptical can gain a deserved big-race success in the totesport.com Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday.

The four-year-old, a 16/1 chance with totesport, features among the 79 entries remaining in the prestigious nine-furlong heritage handicap following today’s five-day confirmation stage.

Elliptical went down by a head to Tartan Gigha over the same course and distance in the Suffolk Handicap in May and endured further heartbreak on his latest start at Newbury on 18th September, when being collared near the line by Forte Dei Marmi in the 10-furlong Dubai Duty Free Heritage Handicap.

Butler revealed: “Elliptical came out of his run at Newbury in good shape and the only issue we might have, and it is only a very small thing, is that Newmarket might come a bit too soon. It’s the last big handicap of the year open to him and I hope that we can get him there in as good a shape as possible.

“I think he thought he might have won at Newbury until he looked over to his left and saw Forte Dei Marmi coming to beat him for a third time. It took a lot of convincing, but I finally persuaded Luca Cumani not to run his horse again on Saturday, so hopefully we can go there with a chance.”

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

27th September 2010 Workforce team delay decision

A decision on whether Workforce runs in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is not expected until Thursday.

Connections are giving the Derby winner as much time as they can before making up their minds about going for France’s premier middle-distance prize at Longchamp on Sunday.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has not raced since disappointing behind Harbinger in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

He did however please in a workout with two stable companions over a mile at Sandown racecourse on Tuesday in the hands of Stoute’s number one jockey Ryan Moore.

“(There is) no further news on that yet. There won’t be anything until Thursday,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.

Workforce is second favourite at around 5-1 for the Arc.

Tags: ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

26th September 2010 Poet’s Voice victorious at Ascot

Poet’s Voice landed a last-gasp victory over Rip Van Winkle in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Frankie Dettori got the Godolphin-owned colt home by a nose from last year’s winner in the mile Group One, sponsored by Sony. Red Jazz was just half a length behind in a third.

Victory on the 9-2 shot completed a 78-1 treble on the day for Dettori, successful earlier on White Moonstone and Redford.

Dettori won his fourth of the day in the following race on Rainfall but couldn’t make it five in the final race on Aaim To Prosper who finished third.

Air Chief Marshal set the pace for Rip Van Winkle before Aidan O’Brien’s first string made his bid for glory as the field straightened up after the turn.

However, Rip Van Winkle could not see off his rivals and it was Poet’s Voice who found that bit extra in the dying strides to snatch the glory.

Hot favourite Makfi could not get in a blow and was well-beaten.

Tags: ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

25th September 2010 Ascot seal Champion Stakes switch

British racing will stage its richest ever raceday at Ascot on October 15 next year with the introduction of British Champions’ Day.

More then £3million in prize money will be on offer on a card that will feature the Champion Stakes, controversially transferred from Newmarket, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Diadem Stakes, Jockey Club Cup and Pride Stakes, as well as a high-profile handicap.

The flagship meeting will be the culmination of a new British Champions’ Series, which will launch on 2000 Guineas day, April 30.

It will comprise of five separate championship categories, namely Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies and Mares.

The six highest-rated races in each category will feature in the series ” to create easy-to-follow storylines for a wider audience”.

Over £13million will be up for grabs at showpiece meetings such as Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival at York.

The new programme has meant some races switching venues, with the most obvious trade being the Champion Stakes leaving Newmarket for Ascot.

As a result, Newmarket will now stage an annual Future Champions’ Day, with he aim of finding horses of the potential to take part in the Champions’ Day the following year.

It will take place on October 8, 2011 and feature the Dewhurst Stakes, Middle ark Stakes, Rockfel Stakes and Autumn Stakes for two-year-old horses, and the Challenge Stakes, Darley Stakes and the Cesarewitch for three-year-olds and upwards.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

24th September 2010 Makfi faces seven at Ascot

Following the defection of Canford Cliffs, Mafki faces seven rivals in the Sony-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.

Aidan O’Brien is responsible for three of them with Johnny Murtagh on Rip Van Winkle, Ryan Moore aboard Beethoven and Jamie Spencer riding Air Cheif Marshall.

Godolphin rely on Poet’s Voice (Frankie Dettori) while Bushman, Hearts Of Fire and Red Jazz complete the field.

Makfi is 4-5 favourite with Sky Bet with Rip Van Winkle next best at 5-2. Poet’s Voice is a 15-2 chance.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Horse Racing News | No Comments »

« Older Entries